People Share Their Most Effective Psychological Tricks

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mattstaff
Oct 14, 2019 11:00 PM EDT

Someone on AskReddit asked for people to share their most effective psychological tricks. With enough of these in your arsenal, you might actually be able to get a leg up on life. 

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  • 01
    Text - Impossible_Praline 6d 1 Award To avoid workplace drama and be well liked is to just compliment people behind their back.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 02
    Text - Neither_Lingonberry 6d S 1 Award Saying "thanks" instead of "sorry". "Thank you for your patience" is better than "Sorry l'm late", since it puts the person kind of high position. You imply that they have lot of patience, and if they are with peers, they will want to defend that position and show that they really have a lot of patience.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 03
    Text - pretzelator 6d People will spill their guts to you if you act nonjudgmental and unfazed by what they're saying. I don't even do this intentionally (usually I'd rather not have my ear talked off), but that's my natural demeanour and people tell me everything.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 04
    Text - pistonote 6d When walking in a busy 2-way street, look over approaching people's shoulders on the side that you want to pass them. They'll usually subconsciously notice your gaze and shift to the side, allowing you to pass without jostling. Helps me out daily as a petite 5'2" person.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 05
    Text - stars_and_infinity 6d Using "it was my understanding" instead of "I assumed" when you do something wrong. People generally react much kinder to someone who misunderstood as opposed to someone who jumped to conclusions with incorrect assumptions.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 06
    Text - zangor 6d Go to lunch late. That way the day seems shorter.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 07
    Text - OkDrama0 6d If you're walking through a huge crowd, just keep your head up and continue moving. People will naturally part a way for you, as opposed to keeping your head down and trying to wiggle your way through
    via u/saberdog40
  • 08
    Text - Vessix 6d When I need to remember someone's name I say it back to them like 3 or 4 times during conversation when quickly explaining how much trouble I have remembering names. When possible it goes sort of like this. Nice to meet you Amy. Amy. You know I may not remember your name Amy, I'm much better with faces than I am names. But Amy when there's someone whose name I really want to remember, I say their name a lot. Kinda weird but it works Amy! Usually nets a laugh and works as a good
    via u/saberdog40
  • 09
    Text - TonkaButt 6d Assumptive language: doesn't give the person the option to say no. Example: "can I have a few minutes of your time?" Becomes "what time is best to talk?"
    via u/saberdog40
  • 10
    Text - shizzayne0 6d Don't be so quick to answer. Pause, let the silence set in before answering.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 11
    Text - One Horse TwoShrimp 6d Changing subjects, in meetings or even in general conversations, but especially in horrible, looong, boring meetings. I work with a group of waffle-copters, and meetings easily go from 15mins to 35mins+ as questions are asked, rhetorical diversions are made. This leads to agreements, counter- arguments, small skirmishes, alliances brokered through nods and hand gestures and it becomes like a susseration of 'waffle, waffle, waffle, waffle' So my trick is to break it
    via u/saberdog40
  • 12
    Text - Aurakataris . 6d If you have to ask why did someone do something wrong, put the why at the end to assert authority. Example: Why did you call him a bastard? VS You called him a bastard. Why?
    via u/saberdog40
  • 13
    Text - Ifrey 6d Learnt how to use silence as a bargaining technique in my last sales job. Put it to the test the other day and managed to get over the asking price on the vehicle I was selling. It's powerful and it's such a strange feeling when you watch it work almost every time. Our brains are weird
    via u/saberdog40
  • 14
    Text - Lucifer042 6d When someone's not paying attention to you, just tell them to forget about it. They will instantly become interested in it.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 15
    Text - Tonysve 6d When someone is telling you a lie, say nothing, but memorize very specific details and accept their version of the story. Wait a few days late.. Now you can start asking questions.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 16
    Text - Dannypeck96. 6 If I want something from someone, I listen. I let them talk. Find out what it is they have a problem with. Then I construct my request in such a way that it seems to them that it'll solve their problem.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 17
    Text - Hagmosh 6d "Is there anything else I can help you with?" Might be obvious for people who work in call centres who are given specific scripts, but for my job I don't get calls very often so our team didn't get any phone training, but when people do ring they are typically VERY PISSED OFF. If a conversation is going circular then I try to answer as directly as I can and then afterwards I chuck on a "is there anything else l can help you with?" 100% of the time (so far) they say 'no thank yo
    via u/saberdog40
  • 18
    Text - Bat_Cat_Bat_Cat 6d Use "in my opinion" a lot. Instead of saying they should do this I say in my opinion they should do this. Makes people understand that you're not giving them a command but an advice
    via u/saberdog40
  • 19
    Text - skpicky 6d Never ever ever be the first one to say a number. Always make the employer offer a figure.Them: What kind of salary are you looking for?Me: It's negotiable.Them: Ok, so like how much?Me: well need enough to make sure I can pay my bills.Them: So how much is that?Me: Well it varies. You just keep going until they finally give in and give you a number. Also do this when buying or selling something.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 20
    Text - shutyercakeholesam 6d l use facial expressions like shock or surprise or confused when I'm in a group and listening to someone talking. You would be surprised at what people will give up with the faces they make. Like if the person talking isn't liked by someone there, or who thinks the person talking is full of shit. When I'm around a group of people or out in public I watch faces and expressions of others too. Like if someone is daydreaming or looking at someone with a stank eye.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 21
    Text - shuvenker999 6d One that I picked up from a friend of mine whenever he was trying to pick out dinner with his gf: rather than ask "What do you want?" and getting the typical 'i dunno, anything' answer and then having suggestions shot down. Start with "what do you NOT want?" Used it a few times in some of my relationships and it's the godsend question
    via u/saberdog40
  • 22
    Text - feriou02 6d I call people one by one when I'm establishing a gathering or meet-up. Then a day before, I would call them again and say the place/time to confirm if they can make it or not. Andddd, then I text them that I'm currently on the way a few hours prior even though l sometimes do this while I'm still at home. A friend gathering has never been easier along with every type of meet-up
    via u/saberdog40
  • 23
    Text - ItsJordeh 6d Whenever someone tells me they have the hiccups, I always just say "No you don't" to them they don't have another hiccup 90% of the time, it's really funny to mess with people's heads like that
    via u/saberdog40
  • 24
    Text - NaraFei_Jenova 6d Ask my wife to guess where I'm taking her for dinner, then take her to the first place she guesses!
    via u/saberdog40
  • 25
    Text - YoungDiscord. 6d During any dispute between two people in an argument: I think what X might have meant was (insert what X said but shown in a way that sides a bit with Y) Do that back and forth a few times until the situation is diffused, it works more often than you'd think. Also, the less you use your voice the more you will be heard, this is why I don't raise my voice or shout during arguments unless I absolutely have to, when I do, people listen, I know tons of people who shout every
    via u/saberdog40
  • 26
    Text - minervasbiscuittin 6d Silence. Say something confidently, sit back quietly, and look them in the eye. It got me a $25k raise in a salary freeze year last year. (Will day this seems to be more intimidating when you are generally a small, bubbly person who has previously not shown their poker face.) I'm also fond of saying "so what you're telling is," followed by repeating someone's stupid comment back to them so they can see how stupid it sounds. This can be used productively or destructiv
    via u/saberdog40
  • 27
    Text - kalebrianna 6d This might only work for late people but if you're running late always over estimate how long it will take you to get there ie. you're in the car 15 minutes away, you want to say 10 so it won't seem like you're that late but you should actually say 20 when you arrive in 17 minutes people are happy that you arrived early for this later time. I'm usually the one doing it but I've had it done to me and it works because if someone says they're 20 mins away know I have 20 mins t
    via u/saberdog40
  • 28
    Text - cheesecakeandchill 6d Every time I lie, I usually sandwich the lie in between two known truths, or tell the lie after recounting an embarrassing story about myself They're more likely to believe it.
    via u/saberdog40
  • 29
    Text - jackmiaw 6d Idk i most of the time use Body Language. When you work with someone first you test them on lies and truths. Simple ask them bunch of question and watch face and hand People always have thick when they lie. Because brain works harder when you come up with a fast lie. Then the body reacts to it
    via u/saberdog40

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mind games interesting askreddit mental floss knowledge psychology
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